Best Ways to Entertain a Toddler on a plane

[ZachnElli]

We are leaving next Tuesday and I just don't know how I'm going to entertain my 17 month old! Help! Thanks!

 

[Alysa]

Items to include:
• Child's favourite character plush or doll - we brought Roo when DD was 15 months as I recall.
• Those lovely multi-coloured suckers - watch for the sugar buzz though!
• Stickers
• Disney colour magic colouring book and markers
• The Disney store lightly-up twirley thing - extra bonus - get it at the Disney store and bring it to Fantasmic instead of paying $18 for it there.
• Bottle of water, cheese and crackers and some raisins
• Change of clothes for warm weater plus sandals.
You can get great Disney backpacks on sale at the Disney store right now and then that can be your little ones treat bag - he or she will feel so proud carrying it!
That should get you through a good three hour flight - on the way back toddlers tend to either sleep or tell you all about their favourite part! Over and over and over and over again.

Have fun!

 

[Mrsduck101]

Snacks and sippy cups or juice boxes, favorite blanket or stuffed animal to help calm them if they get scared, travel magna doodle, new coloring book and washable crayons, board books, stickers, and if they still use a pacifier don't forget it

 

[Hoosier Mom]

We have the same situation. Flying with our 18 month old next month.

We are taking color wonders, a travel magnidoodle, stickers, animal crackers, cheese nips, a little sandwich, and a sippy cup of ice water. I'm also packing a blankie, although it's doubtful he'll sleep.

I thought about a sucker and I tested him out on his first one a couple weeks ago. It was a mess. He didn't swallow...he just let the slober/juice run out his mouth. What a sticky mess.

I also got him aquadoodle disney mats (where you color with the little pen that you put water in). He must be too young. He'll do this for a few seconds and then he is not interested, but then he's not really interested in books yet either. I'm hoping the color wonders do better, at least there's more pens to play with.

I got a non-stop flight so we will be there in 2 hours.

I thought about getting a little backpack, but I figure I'll be the one who ends up carrying it, so I'm just taking his diaper bag. It has a comfy shoulder strap.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[RangerPooh]

Thanks for the reminder about a coloring book and crayons. We are leaving for WDW this weekend and are flyng cross country with DD 18mo who is in need of entertaining.

 

[ctnurse]

DS has flown twice. The 1st time he was 14 months old and the next time he was 22 months old. I had toys,crayons,books,snacks. What worked the best was the laptop with the elmo DVD. We also had part of the flight during nap time and he slept great. He will be 2 and 1/2 when we go in sept and he is so excited about going on a plane.

 

[Kahana-ri]

Snacks, snacks, snacks! Fruit snacks were great to have.
Portable DVD player
Plush Toys
Books
New small toys to unwrap and keep entertained

We took an 8 hour flight with our 15-month old. Poor guy did as well as expected considering how long the flight was.

 

[js092097]

We are driving to Disney with our 2 1/2 yr old. I was wondering the same thing. We will be taking videos, color wonder, hot wheels, snacks, travel pillow , and a magnadoodle. Keep the good ideas coming!!

 

[44disney]

My son is now 9, but here is a true story of when he and I flew from Nashville to New Orleans to visit my in-laws when he was about 18 months old.

He didn't need any toys, drinks, or food. He was perfectly content, strapped into his car seat, stroking the thigh of the pretty, young woman sitting on the other side of him! Apparently, he loved the way her pantyhose felt! Thankfully she was a very good sport about it, because, try as I might, he would not stop!!!

Maybe you could wear hose (just kidding!)???

 

[Schmeck]

With the flight restrictions out now, you'd be smart to leave any kind of stuff that you might be asked to toss safe at home, like playdoh, bubble, liquid gel markers, etc. I can't think of a quicker way to upset a kid than having him watch you toss some fun stuff into the trash...

 

[dougsmom98]

I think stickers are worth repeating. It takes a lot for their little hands to pull them off the paper and stick it down on another piece of paper. It kept my kids busy when they were about that age. Also, a lift the flap book with tons of flaps keeps my 14 month old intrigued for a long time. Good luck.

 

[las3888]

I would say the best advice is to think about what keeps your DS occupied at home or in the car right now? For example, my DS really loves flipping through books, especially those that have flaps and stuff for him to do. He also LOVES videos so by far and large the best thing for our DS on his 3 flights so far (he is 17 mos also) was the DVD player. I threw all the TV rules out the window and just let it go. If he's into books, maybe get a few new ones with his favorite characters or topics (balls, animals, etc.) Food helps if it's mealtime. I wouldn't go out and buy stickers or crayons or magna doodles if your DS isn't into them right now. We tried that last time, and for example, he's not a big sticker guy at home and nor was he on the plane.

Good luck!

 

[bjscheel]

Someone on another board had play-doh taken away at the airport today. But my best recommendation for trips is Crayola Model Magic. It plays like playdoh but is CLEAN and won't crumb everywhere or smudge up their fingers. Open one or two foil packs of it and let them shape, poke, twist. Give them two colors and tell them to mix them till they create one new color. This takes quite a while. Then you just throw it away at the end of the flight because it will dry out anyway.

 

[maxtomsmom]

Lots and Lots of stickers, containers (they love to put things in and take them out again), new toys with buttons - electronic toys especially, books with flaps keep little hands very busy and lots of food. If your child is not too picky, try different cereals the kind you don't always buy. Buyat least two new toys for the way to Disney. Then at Disney have your child pick out one or two new toys for the way home. DO NOT OPEN THE TOYS until you get on the plane. I never let my kids even see it. Then I pack their own very special bag. I kept bringing out a new toy every so often. Also do not let your child nap, the plane can have the same effect as a car. We would put our children to bed early. Wake them up earlier then usual and by the time they got on the plane, they were tired. The toddler slept almost the entire trip down. Also they love to check out the bathroom. You can visit each one on the plane. That worked too! My son enjoyed saying hello to everyone. We would go up and down the different aisle. I don't think the stewardess minded too much because it kept him pretty quiet.

Good Luck! Travelling with a toddler is an adventure all in itself!

 

[Sandi12404]

I just had a funny thought when you mentioned bringing electronic toys on the plane. My brother lives in Florida and recently flew home for a visit. A little boy in front of him had an electronic see and say and my brother had to listen to "the cow says moo" over and over again for 2 hours. Apparently the little boy loves cows. He almost went out of his mind and I swore to him I wouldn't let my children play with electronic toys (unless they have headphones) on a plane....ever.

 

[Alysa]

My DH mentioned the terrorism plot foiled this morning (hurrah Scotland Yard!!!) and I am embarrased to say I had not heard anything about it until he mentioned it - we were busy listening to Raffi instead. Here is what I found on the SouthWest site about carry on restrictions:

NO LIQUIDS OR GELS OF ANY KIND WILL BE PERMITTED IN CARRY-ON BAGGAGE. ITEMS MUST BE IN CHECKED BAGGAGE. This includes all beverages, shampoo, suntan lotion, creams, tooth paste, hair gel, and other items of similar consistency.
Exception: Baby formula and breast milk if a baby or small child is traveling; prescription medicine with a name that matches the passenger’s ticket; and insulin and essential other non-prescription medicines

 

[Schmeck]

If you plan on bring electronics on the plane, call the ariport ahead of time to make sure they are still allowed. These restrictions can change at any time. At least make sure they are allowed before you check your luggage in!

 

[Diz-Mommy]

I just had a funny thought when you mentioned bringing electronic toys on the plane. My brother lives in Florida and recently flew home for a visit. A little boy in front of him had an electronic see and say and my brother had to listen to "the cow says moo" over and over again for 2 hours. Apparently the little boy loves cows. He almost went out of his mind and I swore to him I wouldn't let my children play with electronic toys (unless they have headphones) on a plane....ever.

Yeah I would think anything that makes noise needs to have headphones. Not everyone would appreciate learning over and over what sounds a cow makes

We won't be bringing any "noisy" stuff. My oldest and DH will probably watch a movie on DH's laptop. But the magna doodle sounds like a GREAT idea for what will then be my one year old.

Wish us luck! We'll be traveling with a 1 and 2 year old!

DH found a dirert flight from Kansas City so I'm pretty jazzed about that. We've always had to make connections in the past.

 

[tribus121]

For Meds. Well, Pepto and I think that hubby wants to take cough medicine, but we can put those in our luggage instead of our carry ons. However, my mom and I both need our meds for our medical problems.

Oh, crayons are okay on the plane, right? Just want to make sure.

Tribus121's wife.

 

[dreamalittledream]

I love those Aquadoodle sheets with the pen that you fill with water. No mess and reuseable!

Now with the restrictions, I don't know if I can take them. They are not a gel or a liquid but have a cotton fiber for the pen tip. If I don't fill the pens up until I get on the plane, do you think we can take them?